Poland's Tragedy is Our Tragedy

I lost friends in the crash that killed key leaders from the Polish government, economy, and military.

When the plane carrying Polish President Lech Kaczynski, his wife, and dozens of other officials crashed in the Katyn Forest near Smolensk, Russia on Saturday, this immense disaster was also a personal tragedy.

I lost friends in the crash that killed key leaders from the Polish government, economy, and military.

These friends represented democratic Poland, the country that emerged after a decade of struggle led by Solidarity and KOR activists. And of all places for Polish leaders to meet their maker, why did it have to be Katyn, Poles ask, the site of the 1940 Soviet massacre of more than 20,000 Polish officers?

Let me share brief recollections of three of them.

I first met Lech Kaczynski when he was Warsaw's mayor. He was eager for the renewal of Jewish life in Poland. He felt a kinship to Jews, whom he saw as an integral part of Poland's fabric. He said it was impossible to understand Poland without comprehending the Jewish role in its life. That's why he was supportive of the Museum of the History of Polish Jews, and why he was instrumental in launching it.

I later met him many times as president, most recently in February. A man of passion and principle, he seldom minced words. He knew where he stood and he didn't try to mask his views from others.

President Kaczynski was a friend of the United States. He wasn't always so certain, however, that the friendship was reciprocated. Indeed, he feared that at times Poland's loyalty was taken for granted. But he saw the United States as the only real guarantor of global security -- if, he said, Washington wouldn't succumb to Russia's siren song or Europe's equivocation.

The president was a friend of Israel. He liked and understood it. He instinctively grasped its security predicaments because he could personally relate to a vulnerable country in a tough neighborhood. And he chastised those quick to judge Israel in order to curry favor with others, again seeing a parallel with Poland, whose own interests were sacrificed more than once on the altar of global power politics.

Rejecting Iran's nuclear ambitions was a no-brainer for President Kaczynski. Like many Poles, he and his family had witnessed man's capacity for evil. In our meetings, he'd get right to the point: Isn't it obvious what Iran is doing? Iran's leaders can't be trusted with a bomb. The world needs to get tougher with Tehran.

Mariusz Handzlik was another friend on the plane. A diplomat whom I first met in Washington years ago, he was serving as undersecretary of state in the office of Poland's president.

Mariusz and I shared a deep admiration for Jan Karski, the Polish wartime hero who later joined the faculty of Georgetown University. While serving in the United States, Mariusz befriended Karski, becoming his regular chess partner. They were playing chess when Karski suddenly felt ill and died shortly afterward. Together, Mariusz and I cried for this man who, at repeated risk to his own life, had tried to alert a largely deaf world to the Nazi's Final Solution.

And when Mariusz was assigned to the Polish Mission to the United Nations, he proudly told me that now he would be in a position, together with his colleagues, to help Israel in the world body. He wanted the Israelis to know they had friends at the United Nations, which largely was seen as hostile territory for Israel.

Andrzej Przewoźnik was secretary-general of the Council for the Protection of Struggle and Martyrdom Sites.

I first met him when the Polish government and the American Jewish Committee joined together to demarcate, protect, and memorialize the site of the Nazi death camp in Belzec, located in southeastern Poland. In less than a year, more than 500,000 Jews were killed in an area barely the size of a few football fields. Only two Jews survived.

In June 2004, after years of planning and construction, the site was inaugurated. As the late Miles Lerman said at that solemn ceremony, "No place of martyrdom anywhere is today as well protected and memorialized as Belzec."

That could not have occurred without Andrzej's pivotal role. He helped make it happen, overcoming the multiple hurdles along the way. By doing so, he ensured that what took place at Belzec, long neglected by the Communists, would never be forgotten.

May the memories of Lech Kaczynski, Mariusz Handzlik, Andrzej Przewoźnik — and their fellow passengers — forever be for a blessing, as those of us privileged to have known them were ourselves blessed.

The opinions expressed in the comment section are the personal views of the commenters. Comments are moderated, so please keep it civil.

Visitor Comments: 30

(30)
Kola,
May 12, 2010 5:05 PM

The Soviet & Russian Shadow Designs Still Deadly Paths

Thanks for very interesting article about this new Polish Tragedy. Being a Jew, born in Poland, I know how painful this is for the entire Polish nation. And how this Old Wound again became a fresh one again. Katyn as a name is a horrifying sound in each poles ears. If New Russia nowadays will be able to heal this repeating tragedy for the Poles, is still impossible to pedict or to define with certain security. Looking at Russia and her still old policy thinking and making, and if to put Israel in fron of her face, no doubt that Russia is following old tradition, no friendly to Jewish nation of Israel as it rather is too quite opposite to any of her old subjects.
There seems to be hanging a heavely Bad Soviet and todays New Russian Shadow with Drastic Deadly Consequencies when it encircle old subjects with a new so-called friendship...
As mother Russia she act now, giving her mighty breasts to anyone hungry for oil and gas, for the very heavy price she takes...
Time will show, preaty soon, if Katyn, Polish bad nighmare, may be repeated on others, and iif so, will it be the enemies of the West or the opposite again, as before...
I fell and cry with the Poles the tragedy refreshed by the soviet place called Katyn...

(29)
anna,
May 10, 2010 6:55 PM

It is polish tragedy to loss a leader of Pland and many others significant govermant people.

WW II begin at September 1,1939 German attack Poland from West side and September 17,1939 Russion atack Poland from East . When iI was in school in Poland duringa Cominism timenobody teach me about Katyn, Russina camp, on Syberia, Everthynig was greman folt.My parents taking about the war when we children went to sleep.My father suffered from trauma since WII,He was segregated by germa soldiers to be kill ,he was standing next to wal when neighboor speaks German come to him and speak and explain them that he does not did antything against the war rools.he was hidding family under grand because of bombing close o the house.
My unct was 14 years old and she was taken to German y without parents o the camp.I am catholic and my family too but my family suffered during the war II.They sufered beacuse of German occuapncy and suffered beacause of Russian Sowiet "fredom " from nazim occupancy .Smolensk is only one part of the dark russian history.I live far away from Poland now but still love my home land and mourning for my friend, young doctor who was president doctor.

(28)
Anonymous,
April 26, 2010 11:59 PM

Too little too late

Every death is one which Hashem feels pained by, even the drowning of the mitsrim was not something to rejoice over, per our holy Torah.
Polish leaders are politically correct to abhor what happened during the shoa, but were not so when needed to be during WW11, when they were either silent or agreeing with the murder of Crist killers ( as Jews were depicted).We now honor as righteous in our those who were helping Jews. More were murdered in Poland ( 3 million) than anywhere else. Perhaps more were saved, but it was a drop in teh bloody bucket.
In Germany now, a swastica is not permitted.Polish Jews were trusting and naive and we were told they were to take showers , until the gas was turned on instaed of water. I am suspiscious of any person raised in Poland when these atrocities occured. I am happy Mr. Harris and others can move right along and trust the words coming from their mouth , but I do not think they come from their heart and will ever be fearful of how quickly people will turn on others for money and greed. It does not take much to have your neighbors turn on you. A bad economy is enough.
A tragedy occured, but the Poles were not victims of Nazis and their PR is all about denying their complicity. Were Germans victims too? They claim they lost many in the war and many were maimed. More were killed in Poland than anywhere and these leaders are descendants of Polish people who turned a blind eye. I take all they said with a huge grain of kosher salt. Sorry that I have to. That too is a scar I have now, being the child of Holocaust survivors. And you know what? My parents would have said what David Harris said. They were loving all humanity and not bitter about others, in spite of proof otherwise.
Mourning is in order and approriate when humans die.. But we should not forget what happened on Polish soil.
Hate is again lifting its ugly head for Jews. In France and elsewhere. Hashem have mercy on us.

(27)
Janice Urbach,
April 16, 2010 7:25 AM

Thank you for your article. My husband was a Holocaust survivor from Poland and would have wept at this tragic accident, an unprecedented loss for all of us who uphold the ideals of democracy and religious freedom.

(26)
Ben S.,
April 16, 2010 2:41 AM

Interesting point you don't see on the news...

Thank you for the article. Honestly, I wasn't sure how to feel when I heard about the tragedy - I am in school and the world is having problems daily (Earthqukes, mine explosions, volcanic eruptions, wars, terrorism) so when I heard that this happened I felt it was a tough blow, but did not realize the effects. This actually made me realize how little I really know about things...Thanks

(25)
Anonymous,
April 16, 2010 1:27 AM

I cannot imagine a Jewish Life in Poland!

(24)
Irving Salzman,
April 15, 2010 5:48 PM

Mourning Poland's loss

Great article. I am Jewish, the son of a Polish Jewish Holocaust survivor whose family was decimated in the Shoah. While I know that many lament the collaboration of many Poles in the Nazi extermination of Polish Jewry, there were nevertheless Poles who did come to the aid of their Jewish neighbors. And I have seen significant repentance on the part of many present day Poles. I am very encouraged by that. And I am very much looking forward to my first ever trip to Poland later this Spring. I take this opportunity to mourn with the Polish people over their tragic loss at this time. May God comfort you at this difficult time.

(23)
,
April 15, 2010 12:32 PM

To: Anonymous (15)
Stefan Wojs was my assumed wartime name. I survived as a teenage boy on the run, passing for a non-Jew with false papers. I was helped by good people and hounded by others. Without that vital help, I could not have survived.
And for (15) to come out with what he did, at this sombre time, is both wrong and unacceptable. If he doesn't have it in his heart to offer any words of comfort, not even for the righteous, he should remain silent. As a devout man, does the Torah not command you to only speak well of the dead?

(22)
Jong.H.Shin,
April 14, 2010 3:29 PM

Hope for Poland and Israel

Not only because they fall into almost same dates but in its character, Halacaust and Katyn memorial days have striking resemblance. Just like Israeli youth came to Auschwitz to pay homage to the Jewish victims of Halacaust, the president of Poland together with a huge group of important people of Poland were flying to Katyn to honor the Poles who perished there. The country who honor their history, cherishes their people and sticks to the truth will NEVER be defeated, but only prosper. I have a much hope for Poland and Israel in their roles for the world and hope they become stronger allies .

(21)
Anonymous,
April 14, 2010 4:16 AM

Renew Jewish life in Poland? How on earth could that ever be possible?

(20)
Elzbieta Tracewicz,
April 14, 2010 1:52 AM

Thank you David

Thank you Davif for your sincere kind words

(19)
Elzbieta Tracewicz,
April 14, 2010 12:22 AM

Thank you David

Thank you for sincere words, for your friendship with the lost Three mentioned above. Your loss is my loss, as well. It is a horrible, unbelievable loss. I am happy to know that ADL and AJC expressed their sadness about the loss. I hope that Jewish life in Poland will flourish, that Anti-Semitism in Poland will disappear on eday. "We shall overcome ... We sjhall live in Peace ..."

(18)
Anonymous,
April 13, 2010 8:48 PM

Why such tragedy hits the best of humanity?

Why my coment was empty. Explain Celina

(17)
Elianna,
April 13, 2010 8:42 PM

Sorry for the loss

I was very sad to hear of the loss of life in that plane crash. Sorry for you and the people of Poland.

(16)
Noam Leviton,
April 13, 2010 7:53 PM

condolences

David, my condolences to you and my condolences to the Polish people regarding this terrible loss. May all bereaved find peace. May their tragic loss become a mitzvah for all.

(15)
Anonymous,
April 13, 2010 6:52 PM

SPEND YOUR WORDS FOR THE LEARNING OT TORAH ,

THE SHOAH WAS JUST REMEMBERED ...THE POLES SAW,SMELT,FELT,THE SMOKE OF THE CREMATORIAMS.
THEY WERE SILENT AND MORE JEWS WENT TO THE OVENS.
WE SHALL NEVER FORGET
WE SHALL NEVER BE SILENT.

(14)
I'm Polish,
April 13, 2010 6:38 PM

I'm very glad to read, that they were friends of Israel, I didn't know it before! I personally and we as a people are mourning because of the unbelievable plane crash! Please pray now for our country, for our future new president, ministers etc. There were 96 people on board, many fathers (one of them of 8 children), mothers (one I got to know last year was mother of a newborn baby!), three stewardesses aged 24, 25 and 29. They all have left loving families!

(13)
talyah,
April 13, 2010 5:45 PM

shock, grief, tears, admiration for the departed

we are shocked in Romania about this tragedy.....everybody mourns them and think that Russia didn't act correctly..at least

(12)
Esther Rodriguez,
April 13, 2010 5:42 PM

Lost Friends, but not their Legacy

B"H On the last Friday in August of 2007, I flew on the plane assigned to the Polish President, and a whole entourage of prominent members of Poland's society. I was working as a journalist, assigned to cover the day's event as we flew from Warsaw, to Gdansk, to Lublin and back to Warsaw. My cameraman recorded incredible statements, images of men and women whose task was to make Poland a better place. On the flight, I met Maciej Plazynski, Deputy Speaker of the Polish Senate. On the plane I was able to interview him and others, and called him from New York from time to time for interviews. His daughter Kati, always translated. Mr. Plazynski was always available to speak out in favor of freedom, of democracy. Maciej Plazynski, from Gdansk, was in his youth a member of Solidarity and together with that Labour Union, and the will of the Polish people, the world witnessed a miracle: the transition from Communism to democracy. Not a small feat, indeed, a huge, longed-for Blessing. On that Friday that I met Mr. Plazynski, the plane returned to Warsaw with just enough time for me to make it back to the hotel on time for Shabbat and start walking to Rabbi Shudrick's Shul in Warsaw. In the morning on the plane, I had davened Shemona Esre, flying back to Warsaw, I was privileged to daven the Amidah. A whole day's of work with very prominent and capable people came to a close and the serenity and Holiness of Shabbat ensued. That Shabbat in Warsaw I carried with me the impact of having just met very courageous people. This week upon seeing Mr. Plazynski's name on the manifest of the Tupolev Tu-154, my heart sank. I search for answers, I ask why would something as this happen? Of course, I have no answers. Just perhaps the inspiration to appreciate one another more, just perhaps a call to take on legacies of valour and dedication, and apply them to my daily life. Just perhaps to be inspired to take on with added strength, more Mitzvot leading to Tikkun Olam.

(11)
Kasia,
April 13, 2010 5:18 PM

Thank you

Dear David, thank you for this article and for sharing our grief. The President and the other Polish officials were on their way to commemorate the genocide commited on Polish officers and intellectual elite in Katyn by Stalin's men. In the communist era this genocide officially did not exist, and you could be jailed for even raising the issue. The fact that our today's top politicians and top generals died on the 70th anniversary of the massacre the memory of which they were flying to honour was a terrible blow. As a nation we have experienced an incredible togetherness during the last few days. We have also received so many words of kindness from abroad, including the heartfelt messages from Israel. Mr Kaczynski was indeed a great friend of Israel, and so are many Poles.

(10)
Laura,
April 13, 2010 5:15 PM

As painful as it must have been, thank you for sharing your friend's amazing stories. The world was more than dimmed by their sudden & tragic passing.

(9)
Eric Sievers,
April 13, 2010 5:12 PM

Thank you Mr. Harris

Thank you Mr. Harris, your comments have opened a window for me on a story that I had no way to relate to. Was it Churchill who once said something to the effect of," If good men remain silent, then evil men will succeed". Clearly those who died were "good men" and will be sorely missed.

(8)
Greg,
April 13, 2010 5:09 PM

May they rest in peace

May they rest in peace

(7)
louise wohltmann,
April 13, 2010 4:11 PM

very appropo

never to forget---i was born in '41---my memories are very much alive

(6)
David,
April 13, 2010 4:09 PM

Amen!

Well said. Thanks.

(5)
LeeLee,
April 13, 2010 3:34 PM

I was recently in Israel as a tourist for the first time. It speaks of love and shalom. Just like the way you speak of your love and friendship to these three wonderful persons. What a beautiful eulogy. My heartfelt sympathies to the loss of Israel. I am blessed for reading this article. My sincere thanks.

(4)
Steve Skeete,
April 13, 2010 3:17 PM

Re-living Katyn

I, too, am very sorry over this awful tragedy, and sympathise with all who have been so terribly deprived of family, loved ones, friends and colleagues.
The plane crash caused me to do some research into the occasion that led to the ill-fated visit to Russia in the first place.
After reading about Katyn and the suffering of Poles during WW11 the irony and pathos of the crash filled me with great apprehension.
The persons on this doomed flight lost their lives on their way to a ceremony being held to remember a cause for which those responsible have yet to take full responsibility.
That a president and many others lost their lives is sad enough, the story of man's unimaginable and almost total inhumanity to his fellows during WW11 is infinitely sadder.

(3)
David S. Levine,
April 13, 2010 3:14 PM

Poland's Loss IS OURS As Well

These are the types of leaders we wish Poland had in the 1920s and 1930s. Other than Pilsudski himself most of them were bigots and anti-Semites. These leaders were the best that nation has produced and they're gone now. Such a tragedy.

(2)
Michael,
April 13, 2010 2:57 PM

I am sorry for the loss of your friends. Despite this, I don't think that I can generate any sympathy for Poland until they can generate an apology for their enthusiastic roll in the genocide of my people.

(1)
Laura,
April 13, 2010 1:54 PM

David, I am sorry about the great loss of your friends. May your memories provide comfort in this time of sorrow.

I always loved the story of Jonah and the whale. Why do we read it during the afternoon service of Yom Kippur?

The Aish Rabbi Replies:

Let's recap the story: God tells Jonah to go to Ninveh and to prophesy that in 40 days, God will destroy the city. Instead, Jonah goes to Jaffa, boards a ship, and sails for Tarshish. A great storm arises. Frightened, Jonah goes to sleep in the ship's hold. The sailors somehow recognize that Jonah is responsible for the storm. They throw him overboard, and the sea becomes calm.

A great fish swallows Jonah. Then three days later, God commands the fish to spit Jonah back out upon dry land. God tells Jonah, "Let's try it again. Go to Ninveh and tell them in 40 days I will destroy the city."

The story is a metaphor for our struggle for clarity. Jonah is the soul. The soul is assigned to sanctify the world, and draw it close to God. But we are seduced by the world's beauty. (Jaffa in Hebrew means "beauty.") The ship is the body, the sea is the world, and the storm is life's pains and troubles. God hopes confrontation with mortality will inspire us to examine our lives. But Jonah's is the more common response - we go to sleep (have a beer, turn on the television). The sailors throw Jonah overboard - this is death. The fish that swallows Jonah is the grave. Jonah is spat back upon the land - reincarnation. And the Almighty tells us to try again. "Go sanctify the world and bring it close to God."

Each of us is born with an opportunity and a challenge. We each have unique gifts to offer the world and unique challenges to perfect ourselves. If we leave the task unfinished the first time, we get a second chance. Jonah teaches us that repentance can reverse a harsh decree. If the residents of Ninveh had the ability to correct their mistakes and do teshuva, how much more so do we have the ability to correct our former mistakes and do teshuva.

(source: "The Bible for the Clueless But Curious," by Rabbi Nachum Braverman)

In 1948, Egypt launched a large-scale offensive against the Negev region of Israel. This was part of the War of Independence, an attack by five Arab armies designed to "drive the Jews into the sea." Though the Jews were under-armed, untrained, and few in number, through ingenuity and perseverance they staved off the attacks and secured the borders. Yet the price was high -- Israel lost 6,373 of its people, a full one percent of the Jewish population of Israel at the time.

And what does teshuvah consist of? [Repentance to the degree] that the One Who knows all that is hidden will testify that he will never again repeat this sin(Maimonides, Laws of Teshuvah 2:2).

"How can this be?" ask the commentaries. "Inasmuch as man always has free choice to do good or evil, to sin or not to sin, how can God testify that a person will never repeat a particular sin? Is this not a repudiation of one's free will?"

The answer to this came to me at a meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous, at which the speaker, a man who had been sober for twenty-one years, said, "The man I was drank. The man I was will drink again. But now I am a different man."

A sin does not occur in a vacuum. A person who is devout does not abruptly decide to eat treifah. A sin occurs when a person is in such a state that a particular act is not anathema to him.

Consequently, repentance is not complete if one merely regrets having done wrong. One must ask, "How did this sin ever come about? In what kind of a state was I that permitted me to commit this sin?"

True repentance thus consists of changing one's character to the point where, as the person is now, one can no longer even consider doing the forbidden act. Of course, the person's character may deteriorate - and if it does, he may sin again.

God does not testify that the person will never repeat the sin, but rather that his degree of repentance and correction of his character defects are such that, as long as he maintains his new status, he will not commit that sin.

Today I shall...

try to understand how I came to do those things that I regret having done, and bring myself to a state where such acts will be alien to me.

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